Capt K It is fair of you to accuse me of jumping to conclusions. I wasn't there and also haven't seen much of the coverage as I don't live in England. However, you also seem to have jumped to the conclusion that they are innocent. "There where Police and Stewards around the incident and within earshot and nothing has come from either source with regard to there being any racial motivated offence - the Police even threw one of the lads out so they couldn't have thought anything of it." So the police would have made a public statement if they had heard anything racist ? and you are privy to interviews with police and stewards ? I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that after going to a police station they were arrested and charged. Hardly an event that would suggest no evidence.

There has been many mentions in this thread regarding the hysterical reaction of the media. I agree completely, it has been ridiculoulsy over the top. I firmly believe that if the incedent had happened one week earlier there would have been little or no outcry. However, this message board is indicative of why this is the case. Like it or not it is news and people are interested. If not why are there so many pages here devoted to something that most say is being done to death. More than a little ironic I think. And I know by posting this, and I don't post often, I am also contributing and prolonging the furore. I also think the the stupid pricks should be given the maximum legal punishment and banned for life.

I'm with samtheozzy. I would prefered us to have won but really don't care much that we're out of the cup. Premier League survival is the priority and really the only thing that matters. Last nights game gave Hughes a chance to see fringe players in a competetive match. He will now have a much clearer picture of who is who and how they stand and where to go from here. League cup (and FA cup forthat matter) are distractions and a chance to give the reserves a game, the first team a rest and ensure they don't pcik up uneccesary injuries. All that said, it still sounds like we should have won quite comfortabley

Whilst not a particularly great start to the season neither is there any great cause for concern - yet. As many have said, getting anything from the last 3 games would have been considered a plus before the start of the season. We have no manager and our ex manager is manager of Saturday's opposition. That can't happen very often and could be a partial explenation (but not an excuse) for an extremely lacklustre performance. I firmly believe we have a squad cabable off a top half finish, even now. What we desperatley and urgently need is someone to energise, organise and motivate them. Until we get that someone we will continue to be crap and the longer it takes the harder it will be to climb back up the table. But it WILL happen

Not sure which is most unreliable - a rumour on a website (very specific that) or your goldfish's left testicle's best mate's bus driver's hat

Very good friends of my grandad is the Warburton family. His two daughters also get therapy treatments at my Step Mums sister's shop in Bolton. They have spoke of his discontent more than once. Especially when he didnt get Unsworth Brilliant

Surprised or not I'm sure the chairmen won't be happy about their lack of commitment. There were quite a few on here complaining about GS's disloyalty. Only one person can get the job and it quite possibly won't ba any current EPL manager. As all these people know each other how much unofficial tapping up goes on. Its got to be a bit different and less well regulated than players ?

Haven't 3 current permiership managers applied ? (or are reported to have applied) I find it hard to believe they have done this without their club finding out, and whoever they are I presume the club will be well hacked off that their manager is applying for a new job, especially this early in the season

For a town club like ours who finished where we did last season we should be proud of the general quantity and quality of managers who (if you take a reasonably balanced view) have actually applied for the job. If the figure 30 is correct and only 50% are decent I find it quite incredible. I don't want Hoddle, Advocaat or Houlier either but whether you like it or not they are big names. Having said that the 2 of the favourites (Hughes and Strachen) don't seem to have actually applied. Whereas this doesn't mean they won't come it would please me if we employed someone who openly wanted the job, rather than someone who we had to chase and persuade.

Would much rather have Hoddle or Houlier who, rather unfortunately, are both very interested and available immediately. I hope this gets sorted soon, or at least a very short short list gets announced. If this goes on for a few weeks practiacally everyone will have had an article written about how they are going to be the next Rovers manager. Except maybe Hughes and Strachan who, by the sound of things, are the only 2 not to have actaully applied for the job

Strachan's odds drifting a bit as well. Presumbley (and hopefully) only because he has kept very quiet. Again, hopefully, because he is negotiating the fine print on his contract.

Advocaat's name seems to be getting mentioned more and more. In one or two papers this morning. Odds are getting shorter as well. He has actually applied for the job rather than just being linked with it

That sums it all up.

Solathar, I'm not having a go at you, but I had to smile at that comment on two accounts. 1st - Man U, havent been that successfull since the departure of Beckham. 2nd - Souness sells Cole, Dunn and Duff, (for the benifit of the club) and he gets slated. Its a no, no win situation being a manager Doh !! Yes, fair doos. Manure have been complete c**p since Bekham come to think of it. Having said that I still think it was the right decision to sell him at that time. It have been sensible to have a replacement lined up as well though. A for Cole,Dunn and Duff. He didn't get slated by me for selling them. Cole was a has been. Could still do the business now and again but not often enough on his wages (is now looking very good again I know) . Dunn when he went was a useless (usually injured) lump of lard. And as for Duff, he, very unfortunately had no choice. And even if he had it is very hard for a club like Rovers to turn down that amount of money for the fullsquad never mind one player. (Wasn't he still Chelski's most expensive player until Drogba came along ?) I am now going to lie down for a while as I appear to have been defending the most hated man in football.

Maybe a touch on the cynical side but certainly not without grounds. If he is so keen and loyal he should have lowered his wage demands, gone on loan, rediscover his confidence and come back as the old Matty. But he didn't and as the minority on this thread have said - he's had enough time, is costing us too much, and we can't afford to keep him. I think I paraphrase thenodrog by saying (unfortunately) this is business and there is no room for sentiment unless you want to be watching lower league football soon. Much as I hate RFW the fact that Manure come first (selling Beckham was best for the club) has more than a little to do with their success. All the best Matty but its time to move on for your's and Rovers sake.

Absolutely. And if that's what got shut of lazy arse good on Souey. I'm not Souness's biggest fan but I trust him enough to say the right things to the right people and I'm afraid that sometimes means keeping the fans in the dark a bit. Did anybody have any idea we were in for Bothroyd until about 12 last night ?

Have you not read that Dunny dosent play footy any more due to him being injured ALL the time. Sad innit !!

very fair comment. With Dikov and Stead performing as they are not sure we'll see Jay for a while anyway

[ have been told thats he has alot of talent, but hes very slack and lazy ] I'd rather have a slack and lazy 22 year old than a slack and lazy 32 year especially when the youngster has talent and the old git used to have a little bit

Fully expect him to run a round endlessly and do an excellent impersonation of chicken minus head for about 30 minutes, score 2 goals, grin inanely for a while and then retire back into his lazy torpor. When this happens can't wait to hear what the Brum fans say.

I agree that now is the time to dicuss Souness' future. He had a bad season last season, no doubt about it, with some extenuating circumstances. It has been his first underachievemnet however, made to seem worse by last season's overachievement. Definitely deserves at least one more season but for there to be any more we must be, at the absolute very minimum, top half.

Are you making these up yourself ? If you are your in the wrong job (unless you're a lyricist that is) Bloody brilliant!!

Very fair comment but actually not the case at all. On the contrary these are expats I'm talking about. Again, don't get me wrong they're good blokes and quite a few are mates but this sport thing gets on my tits. And another thing about them. To be fair this is very very few but the few are always Australian. Sitting there during the World Cup (football) and continually going on about them all being tarts for falling over etc etc. If you don't enjoy the game don't watch or at least just shut the f**k up.

The only reason I can't let go is because I'm constantly reminded of how fantastic Australia and Australians are at almost everything. Sport especially. Don't get me wrong, its not even that I disagree, they are bloody good at most sports. But when they win they just never shut up about it and when they lose - heaven help you if you try to take the @#/? a bit. And I find it hard to take seriously a big group of big blokes (the same ones who will be watching the rugby on Saturday) cheering and shouting at a game of tennis.

I'll be watching on Sat afternoon.( Don't think I'd bother getting up early on a Sunday morning for it though.) I've watched a few matches and tried to get into it, especially as there are plenty of Aussies, French and quite a few Kiwis round here. I still can't understand why most people like it. However, to the Aussies its a means to show off their bravado and manliness. Its almost as if it were invented so they could compare it to football and call all Brits poofs. By far the main and almost the only reason I will be in the pub on Sat and be vastly out numbered by the convicts is that I could never miss a realistic opportunity of being there when they are beaten. Seeing them beaten by anyone is great, being beaten by England is something I couldn't miss. Australians, almost to a man, are the most obnoxious unsporting pig ignorant boring @#/?s ever when it comes to either winning or losing. I realise not all are like this but it is true of a frightningly large proportion of the ones I've met. They still brag about beating England in the football friendly and having the highest score in any international. They are pathetic and I can't wait to see their faces if we win. However, I still expect them to win.